Misplaced characters and missing cats

A few weeks ago, during a chapter re-write I decided I needed a certain character to turn up and look suitable shifty for a scene or two. Only when I looked I realised I had actually left him behind several chapters and a trek across the wilderness ago.

Bah.

I also can’t remember what I left him doing, and this is someone best not left to their own devices! Certain characters are prone to misbehaving, wandering off and generally causing trouble…

But never fear, post-it notes to the rescue – I decided to map everybody’s whereabouts throughout the story, and hallelujah for funky stationary, I managed to get a different coloured post-it for each character!

The wall in my spare room now looks like something out of an episode of CSI, but I am pleased to report I found my missing character (up to no good as predicted) and will be keeping a beady eye on him in the future.  

If only this little guy were so easy to find.

If you spotted my broken-hearted tweets this week you’ll know that Brian Bear has disappeared.

He went missing early morning on Thursday 10^th May and we are rapidly losing hope that he will turn up alive and well. He’s never missed a meal in his life so we’re pretty sure he’s got himself trapped somewhere, and as the days tick by… well.

We’re all feeling pretty sad right now.

To make it worse, every night I’ve dreamt he’s come home, or that I’ve found him hiding somewhere daft. Makes getting up in the mornings a pretty miserable experience!

I miss his little white toes :-(

And on that note I wish you all a happy weekend. If you have pets give them all an extra squeeze from me.

Laura

A Plea to the Mice of Wiltshire

After my truly epic writing spree last weekend (6000 words and an entire chapter in a day and a half - is that a trumpet I hear blowing?) I have followed up this weekend with... barely a page.

I assure you this is because I am taking the time to mull over some deep ideas, it had nothing at all to do with the amount of wine I drank Friday night (or Saturday night...)

None at all.

(Hic!)

In my defense I was also a little distracted by an uninvited visitor. For a while now our tiniest cat, Brian (yep, Brian) has been bringing us... presents. Dead mice to be specific. And many of them. It's a lovely treat to come down to in the morning. Even better is when he's decide to eat it...

I shall stop there.

Don't be fooled - this dude is a cold blooded killer.

The last few times he's bought in such a present we've tried using our stern face, scowling at him and generally attempting to explain to a CAT that we do not appreciate the early morning mouse guts...
Well apparently some of this got through his fury little head. Because the next mouse he bought in was alive!
Cheers Brian.

I wonder if he's been trying to bring us live mice all this time, only being a cat he plays a little rough and just loved them too hard... Shall have to re-name him Lenny. Since then we've had two more live mice, one of which Fran tried to pretend she had caught herself. She made a show of running round with it in her mouth but the second I booted them both out the back door Mousy made a break for freedom and Fran decided she was too sophisticated for such shenanigans.

Sure you are Frannie, sure you are...
　

Anyway, I am pleased to report that all three live mice managed to leave the premises in the same state! How long for I can't guarantee as we have had several more dead ones since.

If the mice of Wiltshire have any common sense they will all go and hibernate - for the love of God, HIBERNATE! There's only so much death a girl can take before breakfast.